Message communication system and method

• US 20040100364A1
• Filed: 11/18/2003
• Published: 05/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guest Technologies
• Original Assignee: Safetzone Technologies
• Inventors: Couch, Eric, Giraldin, Patrick W., Giraldin, Timothy W., Gross, Ya-Tin, Crowley, Martin F., Kelly, Regan E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,030,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/7.28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/04 related to queuing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments of the invention relate to a system and method of message communication for a confined area of a facility. A personal identification information of one member of a group is entered into at least one of a set of stations distributed throughout the confined area. A message is displayed in response to the receipt of the personal identification information. A request to find the location of the members of the group can be entered into at least one of the group of stations.

Claims

1. A method of message communication for a confined area of a facility, comprising:

receiving personal identification information of one member of a group into at least one of a set of stations distributed throughout the confined area;

displaying a message in response to the receipt of the personal identification information; and

receiving into said at least one of the group of stations a request to find the location of other members of the group.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the displaying of a message occurs at pre-set times during the day.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said message is an intra-facility message for all groups of members.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said message is a facility-to-group member message.

5. A method according to claim 1, further including sending messages to at least one of the stations for storage therein.

6. A method according to claim 1, further including entering a member message into said at least one of the stations, and displaying the member message at one of the stations in response to another group member entering his or her personal identification information into said one of the stations.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said entering a member message includes selecting a stored message from a plurality of stored messages.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said message is a facility message.

9. A method according to claim 1, further including displaying a commercial message at at least one of the stations when idle.

10. A method according to claim 1, further including sending a message to a personal mobile device.

11. A system of message communication for a confined area of a facility, comprising:

means for entering personal identification information of one member of a group into at least one of a set of stations distributed throughout the confined area;

means for displaying a message in response to the receipt of the personal identification information; and

means for entering into said at least one of the group of stations a request to find the location of other members of the group.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the displaying of a message occurs at pre-set times during the day.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said message is an intra-facility message for all groups of members.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein said message is a facility-to-group member message.

15. A system according to claim 11, further including means for sending messages to at least one of the stations for storage therein.

16. A system according to claim 11, further including entering a member message into said at least one of the stations, and means for displaying the member message at one of the stations in response to another group member entering his or her personal identification information into said one of the stations.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein said means for entering a member message includes selecting a stored message from a plurality of stored messages.

18. A system according to claim 11, wherein said message is a facility message.

19. A system according to claim 11, further including means for displaying a commercial message at at least one of the stations when idle.

20. A system according to claim 11, further including sending a message to a personal mobile device.

21. A software system of message communication for a confined area of a facility, comprising:

module for entering personal identification information of one member of a group into at least one of a set of stations distributed throughout the confined area;

module for displaying a message in response to the receipt of the personal identification information; and

module for entering into said at least one of the group of stations a request to find the location of other members of the group.

22. A software system according to claim 21, wherein the displaying of a message occurs at pre-set times during the day.

23. A software system according to claim 22, wherein said message is an intra-facility message for all groups of members.

24. A software system according to claim 22, wherein said message is a facility-to-group member message.

25. A software system according to claim 21, further including module for sending messages to at least one of the stations for storage therein.

26. A software system according to claim 21, further including entering a member message into said at least one of the stations, and module for displaying the member message at one of the stations in response to another group member entering his or her personal identification information into said one of the stations.

27. A software system according to claim 26, wherein said module for entering a member message includes selecting a stored message from a plurality of stored messages.

28. A software system according to claim 21, wherein said message is a facility message.

29. A software system according to claim 21, further including module for displaying a commercial message at at least one of the stations when idle.

30. A software system according to claim 21, further including sending a message to a personal mobile device.